LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI: The Income Tax Department on Wednesday conducted searches at the premises of prominent Uttar Pradesh-based liquor baron and businessman Ponty Chadha, in the state and at a few locations in Delhi.

The searches, which began early this morning, were conducted at more than 10 premises of the businessman after the I-T department got inputs regarding alleged tax evasion by firms associated with him, sources said.

The searches were conducted by the Delhi-based Criminal Investigation Unit of the department and, according to the sources, the searches were related to the alleged mis- pricing of huge liquor consignments in the state and other places.

Chadha is one of the largest liquor businessman of the state, with numerous dealerships, and his business interest is also in the cinema and multiplex sector.

A number of residential and official premises in the state and neighbouring Noida were covered in the searches by a team of about 80 I-T officials, the sources said.